Ilocandia lawmaker prefers to buy radar and sonar systems than ASW anti-submarine attack helicopters

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 29): Ilocandia lawmaker prefers to buy radar and sonar systems than ASW anti-submarine attack helicopters

A lawmaker from Ilocandia Region on Saturday said the country needs effective and adequate radar and sonar systems that could warn defense forces of any incursions into Philippine airspace and sea lanes.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo “Rodito” Albano III said the Department of National Defense (DND) should prioritize purchasing radars and sonar systems that could detect possible incursion in the territorial waters and air space before purchasing two high-tech anti-submarine attack helicopters.

He found it ridiculous to buy two high-tech anti-submarine attack helicopters when the country itself does not even have effective and adequate radar and sonar systems that could warn defense forces of any incursions into Philippine airspace and sea lanes.

“How will these anti-submarine attack helicopters be dispatched if they don’t have the capability at all to know what’s illegally lurking below our sealanes?” Albano quipped.

He clarified that he is not against buying the sophisticated air defense for the military as he supports military modernization but what he wants to point out is DND must know what are the priorities.

The Isabela congressman said that a thorough review on the decision of the DND to ensure that taxpayers’ money would really be spent for essential hardware and equipment would kick-off the modernization of the country's armed forces.

Albano warned the DND that it would be highly improper to spend billions of pesos for the acquisition of military equipment with no definite purpose.

The Assistant Minority Leader of the House of Representatives was referring to newspaper reports quoting Fernando Manalo, DND undersecretary for finance, modernization, installations and munitions, that the DND has allocated P5.4 billion for the purchase of the two ASW helicopters. Manalo was quoted as saying “the project is for implementation”, and that the acquisition process for the aircraft is expected to be completed by this year.

“Being a part of the wish list of the AFP Modernization Program is a stupid and ridiculous reason to waste taxpayers’ money for two anti-submarine attack helicopters for the Philippine Navy whose officers and men had long dreamed of having a modern fleet of navy combat ships like cruisers, destroyers, frigates, corvettes, amphibious assault ships and support and auxiliary ships, patrol boats, hydrographic and oceanographic survey ships, among others,” Albano said.

The former executive director of the Joint Congressional Power Commission, said the P5.4 billion funding for the purchase of the two ASW helicopters should be used to put up new power plants in the country or upgrade old power plants to immediately address the recurring power crisis in Mindanao.

He said the Aquino government should focus its energy and resources into addressing the recurring brownouts which have plagued the region for several years now.

Or better yet, Albano added, the money could have been used to enhance the preparedness and capability of the engineering brigades of the military to enable them to ably respond to disasters or calamities, as shown by the devastation wrought by super typhoon Yolanda.

“We could spend the P5.4 billion meant for two anti-sub attack helicopters better by purchasing additional Hercules type wide-bodied, heavy lift military planes for disaster relief operations, Albano said.

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